about four years afterwards, she died of disordered digestive organs. Showing, therefore, at least, the coincidence of the most severe form of nervous disturbance with disorder of these important functions.

We shall see by-and-bye that Mr. Abernethy made this and other cases the instruments of much future good; but as we shall not be able to digress from that Summary of our obligations, which we shall then be employed in taking, we will add a few words here in aid of removing that difficulty which some people have in understanding how such dreadful pain can result from any organ in the interior of the body; where no pain is felt at all. In order to this, it is only necessary to have a clear general notion of the nervous system. If you could take away everything but the nerves, you would have the brain, spinal marrow, and certain knotlike pieces of nervous substance (ganglions, as we term them) from which myriads of cords proceeded, varying in size from the smallest imaginable filaments up to moderate sized cords; the ends of the delicate filaments ter

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minating in the various organs and on the surface of the body; millions of messengers of the most extreme sensibility, by which impressions are telegraphed with the swiftness of lightning between all parts of the body. There is, however, a habit or rule which is ordinarily observed, and that is one of the most curious things in the whole range of physiology—namely, that the immediate cause of our recognition of sensation is never in the part itself, but the action is constantly transferred to the extremity of the nerve. When you strike the ulnar nerve at the elbow (popularly termed, sometimes, the funny-bone), you feel it in the finger to which its branches are distributed.

If you place your finger in cold or warm water, the action that makes you feel it is in the brain; and we infer this, because if we divide the communication between the brain and the finger, you no longer feel the sensation. Now, bearing this in mind, you easily understand how anything disturbing the nerves of any internal organ may produce pain in some distant branch; and that this

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this is really so, many cases of tic doloreux have furnished conclusive and triumphant proofs. Now, as to why it should be seated in this or that particular site is a question of extreme difficulty, as also in what organ the primary disturbance is seated, supposing it to have been in any of them. The former, I believe, is a question we have yet been unable to solve; the latter may usually be accomplished if sufficient pains be taken.

Abernethy, in his lectures on this subject, when observing on the inefficiency of this division of the nerve; which was ministering to effects only, was accustomed to remark, with that peculiar archness of expression which his pupils must so well remember: "I wonder that "it never entered into the head of some wise "booby or other to divide the nerve going to a "gouty man's toe." This was a very characteristic mode of terminating a discussion of any point which he wished to impress on the memory of the pupil.

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SECTION.

ON OCCASIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF BLEEDING.

In these days of improved statistical inquiry, it would be a very curious document which should give us the comparative number of persons who are now bled, and that of only fifty years ago; and whilst it would present very instructive data as to the progress of medical science, it would give also some significant hints as to the relations of fashionable remedies. First, almost every barber was a bleeder; and within my own recollection, a lady, who for any serious ailment consulted the most eminent physician in the neighbourhood in which she lived, would allow no one to bleed her but the barber.

The multitude of people lost a little blood every spring and fall." Accidents of all kinds afforded a fine opportunity for bleeding. The papers announced accidents generally by the usual "It is with regret that we learn "that Sir Harry was thrown from his

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OF BLEEDING, ITS FREQUENCY.

"horse in the Park. It was feared that the "honourable baronet had sustained serious "injury; but, fortunately, Mr. Sharpe was on "the spot, so that the patient was immediately "bled. He was conveyed home, and we rejoice "to hear that he is doing well. The accident, "which it had been feared was a fracture, "proved to be only a dislocation." "

The questions in regard to bleeding were said to be who, when, and how much (quis, quando, quantum ?) but, to our minds, Aretæus has a better saying: "When bleeding is re

quired, there is need of deliberation (cum sanguinem detrahere oportet, deliberatione "indiget)." We like this better because, in addition to the little words quoted above, it suggests another more important than either —namely, cur? why ?-on many occasions, a favourite inquiry of Abernethy's.

We recollect a surgeon being called to a gentleman who was taken ill suddenly, and he - found two or three servants and the medical attendant struggling very vigorously with the patient. Whilst this was continuing, the first